Sheet-metal vehicle body



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E. W. TEMPLIN SHEET METAL VEHICLE BODY Filed April 21, 19.5.5

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E. w. TEMPLIN SHEET'METAL' VEHICLE BODY Filed April 21, 1925 6 Sheets-sheet 5 lINVENTOR ATTORNEY Jan. 22, 1929.

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E. W. TEMPLIN SHEET METAL VEHICLE BODY Filed April 21, 1925 G Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Jan. A22, 1929.

E. w. TEMPLIN I SHEET `METAL VEHICLE BODY Filed April 21, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Pateritecl Jan. 22, 19,29.

UNITED STATES ELLIS W. TMPLIN, OIF-UPPER DABBY, PENNSYLVANIA-ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERI- C'AN MOTOR BODY CORPORATION, OF PORATION OF DELAWARE.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COB- Vsnaar-literal. vnnrcnn BODY.

Application filed April 21, 192.5. Serial No. 24,721. i

This invention relates to vehicle bodiesf and lmore particularly relates to sheet metal bus bodies for automotive vehicles.

Hei'etofore it has been customary in automotive vehicles to provide achassis and a body which is separate from the chassis and is mounted thereon. The power plant, the front and rear axle assemblies and other units, such as brake controls, etc., havebeen mounted on the chassis.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to reduce the weight of the construction, particularly when applied to a motor bus body, and a construction'wliich provides greater carrying capacity in proportion to the power o the engine. Another object of my invention. is to provide a light sheet metal construction functioning both as a body and as a support for the power plant of the vehicle, the front and rear axley assemblies and other units, such as brake controls, ete., and at the same time is sufficiently strong to withstand all stresses and strains of traveling and load and roadconditions. A further object of m invention is to provide a construction o the above character which is applicable to either single or double yhave been usually mounted on a separate chassis frame, and the chassis frame is no longer necessary and may be eliminated. These units, including the power plant and the various other units usually carried by the chassis frame, may be secured suitabl to suchsheet metal construction at the desired locations by means of suitablel arms or brackets, or other suitable attachment members. One form of trussed sheet metal construction lwhich has been found satisfactory'Y com risesthe structure disclosed in patent to ohn O. Madison, No. 1,277,622, dated September 3, 1918. It is to be understood,

however, that my invention is not limited to any specific form of trussed sheet metal, nor to any specific means of mounting'tlie said units thereon. n

yIn order that a clearer understanding of my invention. may be had, attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and illustrating certain possible embodiments of my invention. Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top view of a .double deck bus body embodying my invention, a portion of the top at the front being broken away to more clearly bring out .certain yof the features; Fig. 2 is a side View of the same with certain portions broken away; Fig. 3 is a front View of the` same with certain portions broken away ;.Fig.. 4 is a rear view of the saine with 'certain portions broken away; Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, `the upper deck being removed; Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan yview of a fragment of the trusscdsheet metal incorporated in the construction; Fig.7 is a sectional View of the same and is taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view showing a detail of the construction at a front corner thereof; .Fig 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9.-9 ofFig.v 8; Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a fragment of the construction at-arearcornemthereof, and is taken on theline 10-10 of Fig. 1; Fig. 11'

is an enlarged vertical section of a portion of the constructiomand is taken on the line l1-11 of-Fig. 2; Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of aportion of the construction, and is taken `on the line 12-12 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 13 is an enlarged View of a portion of the construction, partly in section, and is takenfon the. line 13-13 of Fig. 2,. Similar reference characters refer to similar larts throughout theseveral views of the rawings.

Referrin to the drawings, when a sin le deck body is desired, it may comprise, in t 1e main, of an inner sheet metal shell 1 and an outer sheet metal shell 2. y These shells may be in two sections.l The upper section 3 forms the tops and sides of the body above the windows 4 and the lower section 5 forms the floor 6 and the sides`7 of the bodybelow the windows. These two sections 3 and 5 may be fastened together by castings 8 which ferm the window frames, whereby the two sections are 'oined together to form the complete top, sides and bottom of the body, and also theI back and front, if desired.

Eachiof the shells 1 and 2 are preferably made up from ysheets of metal that have been formed with depressions 9. The shells are Ythen placed together with the depressed surfaces adjacent each other and there spot-welded or riveted together, as at 10. It is not necessary to make the top, bottom and sides of the body of integral sheets, since they may be formed of separate sheets which abut each other and are welded or riveted together at their overlapping edges, as along the lines 11 in Fig. 2. The window frame castings 8 and 8 are peri herally shaped to seat between the ends of t 1e inner shell 1 and the outer shell 2 and maybe welded or riveted thereto as at 12. Preferably, the front ends of theseshells 1 and 2 are fastened to a suitable, casting 13 which supports the front bulk head, and the rear ends of these shells are fastened to a suit-y able casting-14 which supports the rear bulk head and rear latform. These shells after assembly will e so strong that a chassis frame will not be neeessar to support these y elements and the chassis rame accordingly may be eliminated. l

When a double deck bus body is desired, an upper deck portion is constructed which 1s a that the roof of. the lower ldeckl portion serves as the floor for the upper deck.- Such upper deckY portion may be constructed of i trussed sheet metal of the character above described and may be assembled in substantially the `same manner. he upper deck body has a trussed sheet metal section which forms the top 16 and the sides 17 above the windows 18 and a lower section 19'forming the sides below the windows. These two sections 17 and 19 may be fastened together by bein' riveted to castin s 2.0 which form the win ow'frames. The ower edge of the lower section may be welded or riveted, as

above construction fandmanyl a at 21, to a horizontal castlin 22 which fits on the top edge of the lower eck body, and whereby the-upper deck body may be fastenel to the lower deck body rigidly and secure y.

. The power plant 'V23' and front axle assembly24 are mounted on two arms orv brackets 25 which project from the front ,end of the body.` A plurality of horizontal finger'portions 26 at the rear of these brackets are inserted into the floor of the body between-the inner shell 1 and the outer shell 2 for a considerable distance and are.

fastened to these shells by welding' or rivet,- ing, as `.at 27. 4These brackets are 'also fastened to a suitable castingl which extends across the lower front e ge of the body apted to be placed directly on top of` the lower-deck construction in such a wayl tending upwardly along the front of the -body or a considerable distance, and at their upper edge are fastened to a channel sha ed cross member 30 which extends the ful width of 'the body and is fastened at each end, as by rivets 31, to a shoulder 32 formed on the casting 13. This cross member 30 is also fastened at the center to a vertical artition member 33 which extends rearwardly fera distance and then curves `toward one side of the body and forms a com artment for the driver of the vehicle.

T e rear axle assembly 34 is mounted on the body kby means of brackets B5, one of which is at each side of the body. Each bracket has upwardl extending linger portions 36 which exten upwardly between the inner shell 1 and the outer shell 2 for a considerable distance, and to which shells these lingers are secured by 'welding or riveting, as at 37. These brackets also have portions 38 extendin beneath the licor of th'e `bod1y, and to which these portions are fastene by welding or riveting, as at 39. Preferably, a torque tube 40 extends across the body and is secured to the two brackets i The outside 'of the body may be covered' with a light fabric, thereby covering all depressions and making a smooth surface i'or painting.

As many changes could be made in the l u parently widely different embodiments of t 11s invention coulchbe'made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contamed in the above description or shown 1n the accom anying drawings shall be interpreted as il ustrative and not in V:V

limiting sense. s

' It now will be readily apparent that the above described body involves several new and useful features in body construction. One of the main `features is the elimination of the chassis frameand the mounting direct y to and on the -body of all units which heretofore usually have been mounted on a separate chassis. vThis feature `lalone greatly reduces the weight of the bus` and allows a greater carryingicapacity without increasing the size of the power plant. The trussed material may comprise sheet steel or lighter material, such as aluminum, preferably aluminuml The construction is such that a thin gagelof metal can be used and Will be sufficiently strong to take care of all stresses and strains caused by road conditions and usage. These novel features may be ap lied to bodies of different types, such as sing e or double deck bus bodies, commercial bodies,

'and many other types of bodies.

2. In vehicle construction of the char' acter described, in combination, a front body portion of trussed sheet metal, brackets secured to said front and having portions extending forwardly thereof, and a power plant and a front axle assembly supported on the forward extending portion of said brackets.

3. In vehicle constructionof the character described, in combination, a front body portion of trussed sheet metal, including an inner shell and an outer shellbrackets having port-ions disposed between and secured to said shells and extending forwardly of said front body portion, and a running gear unit supported on said brackets.

4. In vehicle construction of the character described, in combination, a front body portion `of 'trussed sheet metal, ncludinr an inner shell and an outer shell, brackets aving portions "disposed between and secured to said shells and extending forwardly of said frnt body portion, and a runnin gear unit supported on-said brackets, said rackets having upwardly extending port-ions disposed against and secured to said sheet metal front.

5. In vehicle construction of the character described, in combination, a front body por- .unit supported on said brackets, a horizontal reenforcing member extending across and secured to the lower edge of said sheet metal front, and said brackets being secured also to said reenforcing member.

6. Vehicle body constructionof the charr acter described, comprising a 'front body portion of trussed sheet metal, including an limer shell and an outer shell, a U-shaped reenforcing 'member extending across the lower edge and upwardly along the front corners of said sheet metal front and secured thereto, another reenforcing member eX- vtending horizontally between and secured at its ends to the upwardly extending portions of saicVU-shaped member above the bottom of said sheet metal front, brackets having horizontal portions disposed between said shells and secured thereto and having ver` tical portions extending upwardly along the front of said sheet metal front and secured thereto, said bracketsbeing secured to both said reenforcing members, and a running gear unit mounted on said brackets.

'l'. In vehicle construction of the character v described, the combination witlrbottom and side body portions built up of trussed sheet metal, including an inner shell and an outer shell, of a 'bracket on'each side of the vehicle, said brackets having finger portions inserted between and secured. within said inner and outer shells, and a running gear unit extending between and supported by said brackets.

8. In vehicle construction of theV character described, the combination with bottom and side body portions built up of trussed sheet met-al, including an inner shell and an outer shell, of a bracket on each side'of the vehicle and secured to said sheet metal, a running gear unit extending between an/)d supported from said brackets', and a torque tube extendingbetween and secured at each end to said brackets. l

9. In vehicle construction of the character described, the combination with bottom and side body portions built up of trussed sheet metal, including an inner shell and an outer shell, of a bracket on each side of the vehicle and secured to said sheet metal, and a ruuning gear unit extending between and supo1-ted by said brackets, eaclr of said brackets iaving a vertical portion disposed between and secured to said shells at the side body portions. i

l 10.4 In vehicle construction `of the character described, the combination` -with bottom and side body portions built up of trussed sheet metal, including an 'inner shell and an outer shell, of a bracket on each side of the vehicle and ,secured to said sheet metal, and a rear axleunit extending betweenand supported by said brackets, each of said brackets having a vertical ortiorr disposed between-and secured to Vsai shells at the side body portions, andhaving a horizontal portion abutting and secured to the bottom body portion.

11. In vehicle construction of the character described, a body including an upper section. of trussed sheet metal forming the roof and sides above the Windows, a lower section of trussed sheet metal forming the bottom and character described, the combination withv sides below the windows, window frame castings, said body sections being secured to said castings, and an upper deck section resting on and secured to said upper body section.

12. In vehicle body construction of the character described, the combination with front and bottom body portions built of trussed sheet steel, of a pair of brackets secured to and projecting forwardly of' said front and bottom body portions, and a power unit supported between said brackets and beyond said front and bottom body portions.

13. In vehicle body construction of the front and bottom body portions, said front portion having a horizontal bar secured to and extending substantially the breadth thereof, of a pair of brackets secured to said horizontal bar and said bottom body portiony adapted to support the vehicle .motivating unit. c

14. In vehicle vbody construction of the character described, 'in combination, a body portions, a l,rear platform.

front axle assembly supported onv said,

brackets.

17. Vehicle body construction of the character described, (mmprising a iront body v portion of trussed sheet-metal, includingan glnner shell and an outer'shell, a U-shapcd reinforcing membei` extending across the lower ed e and upwardl 'along the front corners o? said sheet-meta front and secured thereto, and another reinforcing member el tending' horizontally between and secured a `,its ends to the upwardly extending portions of ysaid U-shaped .member above the bottom of said sheet-metal front@ 18,. 'In Vehicle construction ofthe character described, a body including an upper section of trussed sheet-metal forming the roof and sideskabove the windows, a lower section of trussed Asheet-metal forming the bottom and sides belowxthe windows, and window frame castings disposed between and secured to said Ibody sections.

This specification signed this 15th day of April, 1925. ELLIS W. TEMPLIN: 

